Lab to determine if remains found in Montreal park tied to Luka Rocco Magnotta case

Luka Rocco Magnotta links probed after remains found in Montreal park

As police probe whether remains found in a Montreal park over the weekend are, in fact, human, investigators remain mum about whether the discovery has any possible ties to the case of alleged killer Luka Rocco Magnotta.

Body parts have been sent to a police laboratory to determine their origins. Results are expected back in a week, Montreal police constable Daniel Lacoursière told The Gazette Monday.

From there, further identifications can be made, potentially revealing any links to Mr. Magnotta, accused of murdering and dismembering Chinese student Jun Lin this spring.

A tip led investigators to a small lake in Angrignon Park in the southwest Montreal neighbourhood of Ville Émard Sunday where they found what appeared to be a human head, a police source told The Associated Press.

Should the remains belong to Mr. Lin, all of the body parts in the murder and dismemberment case would be accounted for.

Mr. Lin’s torso was discovered stuffed in a suitcase behind Mr. Magnotta’s Montreal apartment building — just a few kilometres from Angrignon Park — in late May.

His hands and feet were mailed to political parties in Ottawa and two B.C. schools — only the head has yet to be found.

Police said they have been in touch with the 33-year-old victim’s family, telling them full recovery of his remains is of high importance to them.

Mr. Lin’s parents took part in a private memorial service at Concordia University last Monday, where between 50 and 100 people gathered in mourning.

“The last 30 days have been the most difficult time in our life,” Mr. Lin’s mother said in a eulogy.

“We lived in the agony of grief of losing a loved one and missing him desperately every day.”

Mr. Magnotta is accused of the murder and dismemberment of Mr. Lin — a shocking crime that earned international headlines.

Dubbed the “Canadian Psycho” by the International media, Mr. Magnotta fled just after the killing and was traced to Berlin, Germany, following a global manhunt.

He was nabbed by police in a local Internet café as he scoped out news stories about himself online and tried to upload photos and video.

The 29-year-old was deported to Montreal where he has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial in front of a
jury.

National Post with files from The Gazette, The Associated Press and The Canadian Press